Jewel holder and jewelry using the same

ABSTRACT

The jewel holder  10  comprising an annular member of a thin line body with a plurality of claw portions  14  thereon has a diameter smaller than a diameter of a girdle  1   d  of a cut jewel  1 , in which the annular member  12  fits at a pavilion  1   b  of the cut jewel  1  and the claw portions  14  press down a pavilion of the cut jewel  1 , thereby holding the cut jewel  1  firmly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a jewel holder and a jewelry using the same.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, several types of jewel holders are used for holding cut jewels such as a diamond and the like, and a jewel holder shown in FIG. 6 is used as one of the commonest type.

That is, a cut jewel must be held securely in order not to come off a body of a jewelry as the cut jewel is precious and characteristically set in a jewelry worn round a part of a wearer's body. Therefore, a diamond 1 is firmly held by a plurality of thick-diameter claw portions 54 which are extending from a part of an outer surface of a body of a ring 52 to surround the diamond 1 and bent inward at cut-outs (not shown) for pressing down a crown 1 a. On the other hand, the pavilion 1 b of the diamond 1 is covered by the claw portions 54 of the ring 52 to a considerable extent in the above-mentioned state.

When a ring is mounted with a cut jewel in the manner as shown in FIG. 6, the prime purpose of providing claw portions is to hold the diamond 1 firmly focusing attention only on incident light X from the crown 1 a. Therefore, the diamond 1 cannot emit brilliance sufficiently as incident light Y (not shown) coming from the pavilion 1 b is intercepted by the claw portions 54 and the body of the ring 52. Conventional jewelries such as rings and pendants are in a similar circumstance as mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-mentioned facts, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a jewel holder with claw portions extending from a thin line body of an annular member capable of enhancing brilliance of a cut jewel by providing incident light sufficiently not only from a crown side but also from a pavilion side with less interception of the light on the pavilion side and uniquely designed jewelries consisting thereof.

To solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention claimed in Claim 1 is a jewel holder characterized in comprising an annular member of a thin line body providing a plurality of claw portions thereon, in which the above-mentioned annular member having an internal diameter smaller than a diameter of a girdle of a cut jewel fits on peripheral surface of a pavilion side and the above-mentioned claw portions press down a crown of the cut jewel in order to hold the cut jewel firmly. The present invention claimed in Claim 2 is a jewel holder characterized in that the diameter of the above-mentioned thin line body is five through ten percent of the diameter of the girdle of the above-mentioned cut jewel.

The present invention claimed in Claim 3 is a jewel holder as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the above-mentioned claw portion is preferably bifurcated at the root and shaped generally in an inverted V shape as a whole. The present invention claimed in Claim 4 is a jewel holder as claimed in Claims 1 through 3 characterized in that the above-mentioned annular member is shaped in a polygonal body with sides curved toward the center and the above-mentioned claw portions are formed on corner portions of the above-mentioned polygonal body preferably. The present invention claimed in Claim 5 is a jewel holder as claimed in Claims 1 through 3 characterized in that the above-mentioned annular member is formed of a combined structure of a plurality of polygonal bodies connected circularly and a curette of the above-mentioned cut jewel is preferably covered with a central portion of the above-mentioned combined structure.

Further, the present invention claimed in Claim 6 is a jewelry characterized in having a jewel holder as claimed in at least one of Claims 1 through 5 with a cut jewel held thereby and being chosen from a group including a pendant, a ring, a pair of earrings and a brooch.

With the jewel holder of the present invention and the jewelry using the same, it becomes possible to intensify brilliance of a cut jewel utilizing the incident light sufficiently not only from the crown side but also from the pavilion side and to provide uniquely designed jewelries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are a side view and a bottom view for showing a jewel holder 10 of a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2(a) is a side view for showing a pendant 20 providing the first jewel holder 10 and FIG. 2(b) is a drawing for showing the pendant 20 in the state of actual use,

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are a side view and a bottom view for showing a jewel holder 30 of a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are a side view and a bottom view for showing a jewel holder 40 of a third embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 5 is a drawing for showing the necklace 48 hanging the jewel holder 40 in the state of actual use, and FIG. 6 is a drawing for showing a ring with a conventional jewel holder for holding a cut jewel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described more particularly. Incidentally, in the embodiments mentioned below, for convenience' sake, a cut jewel and a jewelry mounted therewith are represented by a diamond and a pendant, respectively. FIG. 1 indicates a first jewel holder 10 of a first embodiment of the present invention. Particularly, FIG. 1(a) is a side view and FIG. 1(b) is a bottom view of the first jewel holder 10. Additionally, FIG. 2(a) is a side view for showing a pendant 20 providing the first jewel holder 10 and FIG. 2(b) is a drawing for showing the pendant 20 in the state of actual use.

The jewel holder 10 is mainly comprises an annular member 12 of a thin line body fitting on a peripheral surface of a pavilion 1 b of a diamond 1. And the annular member 12 may be manufactured by processing an ingot of precious metal such as gold, platinum, silver and the like in a desirable curved line or manufactured integrally by the lost wax casting which is a common method of processing jewelries.

An internal diameter A of the annular member 12 is at least smaller than an outer diameter B of a girdle 1 d of the diamond 1. When the diamond 1 is inserted in the annular member 12 from a curette 1C side, the annular member 12 is locked at a middle portion of the pavilion 1 b. When the internal diameter A of the annular member 12 becomes larger, the annular member 12 is locked at a position closer to the girdle 1 d and when smaller, the same is locked at a position closer to the curette 1C. That is, the jewel holder 10 provides a wide range of application without specific limits on the size of the diamond 1.

Incidentally, in the event of forming the internal diameter A of the annular member 12 smaller in order to lock the annular member 12 at a position closer to the girdle 1 d, claw portions 14 become shorter necessarily. Conversely, in the event of forming the internal diameter A larger in order to lock the annual member at a position closer to the curette 1C, the claw portions 14 become longer necessarily. With regard to the strength of the claw portions 14, it is preferable to form the claw portions as short as possible and to lock the annular member 12 at a position higher than at least one-half the length of the pavilion 1 b of the diamond 1.

A diameter of a thin line body of the annular member 12 is preferably five to ten percent of a diameter B of the girdle 1 d of the diamond 1. For example, the diameter of the body of the annular member 12 is preferably set in a range of 0.25 to 0.5 millimeter in length for inserting a diamond 1 of 0.5 carats with the girdle 1 d measuring approximately 5 millimeters in diameter. Accordingly, the reduction in intercepting the incident light coming from the pavilion 1 b side may be accomplished.

The annular member 12 is in a hexagonal shape as a whole with a claw portion 14 b formed on each of corner portions. The annular member 12 may be shaped in other polygonal shape than a hexagon or in an oval shape while fitting at the pavilion 1 b as a whole, as there is no limit on its shape. And the number of the claw portion 14 is not limited to six and may be determined in consideration of the strength enough to hold the diamond 1. For example, needless to say, when the diamond 1 is larger, the number of the claw portion may preferably be increased.

The claw portions 14 are formed in a generally inverted V shape as a whole bifurcating into tow curved line bodies at their roots. Accordingly, top portions of the claw portions 14 are bent inward to press down the crown 1 a and the thin line body is strengthened because of substantial enlargement of the roots, even under considerable load conditions.

The jewel holder is fixed to the diamond 1 from a curette 1C side. And top portions of the claw portions 14 are bent inward by a tool for processing jewelries such as a pair of pliers and the like in order to press down the crown 1 a. That is, the diamond 1 gets caught between the claw portions and the annular member 12 from both top and bottom directions and is held securely by the jewel holder 10.

Incidentally, each side 16 of the polygonal body comprising the annular member 12 is preferably curved inward. That is, the annular member 12 can provide elasticity by forming each of the sides 16 between adjacent claw portions 14 in an arc, thereby fitting at the pavilion 1 b of the diamond 1 in a slightly expanded state. Therefore, the diamond 1 may be secured firmly in the annular member 12 by tightly fitted sides 16 on the peripheral surface of the pavilion 22 while the claw portions 14 are bent to press down the crown 1 a.

The above-mentioned jewel holder 10 may be connected to a pendant 20 by a connecting ring 15 attached thereto in a manner as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The pendant 20 has a base 21 providing a concave portion 24 (a hole is also acceptable) in the center as required. On top portion of the base 21, a hanging portion 22 for hanging the jewel holder 10 and for threading a chain 25 there-through is provided.

A hole 22 b for threading the connecting ring 15 fixed to the jewel holder 10 is formed at a tip of the hanging portion 22 and a hole 22 a for threading the chain 25 is formed at the root of the hanging portion 22.

In the above-mentioned pendant 20, the diamond 1 held by the jewel holder 10 can swing freely to right and left or to back and forth. Additionally, on the pavilion 1 b, the space covered by the jewel holder is lessened and the exposed space is widened. Thus, the diamond 1 can emit stronger brilliance by allowing extraneous light to come in not only from the crown 1 a side but also from the pavilion 1 b side.

Further, a reverse surface of the base 21 of the pendant 20 touches directly to the clothing or the skin of the wearer. Therefore, the acute curette 1C hardly touches directly to or scratches the clothing and the skin, even though the acute curette 1C of the diamond 1 is uncovered.

Incidentally, the pendant 20 provided with the jewel holder 10 is not limited to a specific shape. For example, a pendant with the base 21 formed integrally with the chain 25 is also acceptable, though an example of pendant 20 formed apart from the chain 25 is described in the present embodiment.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are a side view and a bottom view for showing a jewel holder 30 of a second embodiment of the present invention. Incidentally, descriptions of the structure of the pendant 20 and the method of hanging the jewel holder 30 on the pendant 20 in the present embodiment are similar to the first embodiment and thereby omitted here.

The jewel holder 30 consists of a plurality of polygonal bodies, for example a combined structure of inverted triangle members 32, fitting on the peripheral surface of the pavilion 1 b of the diamond 1. Materials and method for manufacturing the combined structure of the inverted triangle members 32 are similar to the first embodiment.

The whole of the combined structure of the inverted triangle members 32 has a diameter A smaller than a diameter B of the girdle 1 d of the diamond 1. When the diamond 1 is inserted to the jewel holder 30 from the curette 1C side, the combined structure of the inverted triangle members 32 covers the whole pavilion 1 b.

Six of the inverted triangle members 32 are combined to form a structure of the jewel holder having six claw portions 34 for pressing down the crown 1 a in the middle on each of six sides 36. Therefore, the diamond 1 is grasped by the combined structure of the inverted triangle members 32 and the claw portions 34. Incidentally, the numbers of the inverted triangle members 32 and claw portions 34 are not limited specifically as the previous embodiment.

Further, a minute hole (not shown) is formed at a central portion 35 of the combined structure of the inverted triangle members 32 of the jewel holder 30 in order to cover the curette 1C of the diamond 1. Therefore, the diamond 1 may be pressed by the claw portions 34 and the inverted triangle members 32 from both top and bottom directions and thereby secured firmly.

With the jewel holder 30, the space on the surface of the diamond 1 covered by the jewel holder is lessened and the exposed surface is widened on the pavilion 1 b in a similar manner to the above-mentioned embodiments. Thus, the diamond 1 can emit stronger brilliance by allowing extraneous light to come in not only from the crown 1 a side but also from the pavilion 1 b side.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are a side view and a bottom view for showing a jewel holder 40 of a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a drawing for showing the necklace 48 hanging the jewel holder 40 in the state of actual use.

The shape, material, method and other details for manufacturing the annular member 12 of the jewel holder 40 are similar to the first embodiment and thereby omitted here.

A connecting ring 47 in a generally oval shape is fixed to one of the claw portions 14 of the annular member 12 in a direction along a ridge of the pavilion 1 b of the diamond 1. And the connecting ring 47 is larger than the connecting rings described in the previous embodiments and the outer diameter in a longitudinal direction extends over a position close to the curette 1C. Therefore, when the jewel holder 40 is used, the connecting ring 47 prevents the acute curette 1C of the diamond 1 from directly touching the clothing or the skin of the wearer, even in the event the curette 1C is exposed.

On the other hand, a necklace for hanging the jewel holder 40 has a cross-sectional profile different from a circle. For example, an omega necklace having a generally oval shape in cross section, a snake necklace having a flat shape in cross section and the like are acceptable. Thus, when the necklace 48 is threaded through the connecting ring 47, the jewel holder 40 is secured without swinging back and forth. Therefore, the jewel holder 40 completely prevents the exposed curette 1C from directly touching and scratching the clothing or the skin of the wearer in cooperation with the shape and the position of the connecting ring 47.

Thus, the combination of the above-mentioned jewel holder 40 and the necklace 48 achieves the weight reduction of the jewelry as a whole, thereby providing jewelries with superiority in remarkable cost advantage and a simplified design.

With the jewel holder 40, the space covered by the jewel holder is lessened and the exposed surface is widened on the pavilion 1 b in a similar manner to the above-mentioned embodiments. Thus, the diamond 1 can emit stronger brilliance by allowing the extraneous light to come in not only from the crown 1 a side but also from the pavilion 1 b side.

While the invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, it will be recognized that the present invention can be practiced with modification and is not limited in the above-mentioned first through third embodiments. For example, other jewel such as an emerald, a ruby, a sapphire and the like, a synthetic stone such as an artificial diamond, and an imitation stone are acceptable to the present invention, though a cut jewel is represented by the diamond 1 in the above-mentioned first through third embodiments.

Further, the present invention is applicable to other jewelries such as a ring, a pair of earrings, a brooch, and the like, though a jewelry is represented by the pendant 30 in the above-mentioned first through third embodiments. 

1. A jewel holder comprising: an annular member of a thin line body providing a plurality of claw portions thereon; said annular member having an internal diameter smaller than a diameter of a girdle of a cut jewel said annular member fitting between adjacent claw portions on a peripheral surface of at least one pavilion side and said claw portions pressing down a crown of the cut jewel to engage said annular member between adjacent claw portions and hold the cut jewel firmly.
 2. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diameter of said thin line body is five to ten percent of the diameter of the girdle of said cut jewel.
 3. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said claw portions have bifurcated roots shaped generally in a V shape.
 4. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said claw portions have bifurcated roots shaped generally in a V shape.
 5. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said annular member is shaped in a polygonal body with sides curved toward a center of the polygonal body and said claw portions are formed on corner portions of said polygonal body.
 6. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said annular member is shaped in a polygonal body with sides curved toward a center of the polygonal body and said claw portions are formed on corner portions of said polygonal body.
 7. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein said annular member is shaped in a polygonal body with sides curved toward a center of the polygonal body and said claw portions are formed on corner portions of said polygonal body.
 8. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein said annular member is shaped in a polygonal body with sides curved toward a center of the polygonal body and said claw portions are formed on corner portions of said polygonal body.
 9. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said annular member is formed of a combined structure of a plurality of polygonal bodies and a curette of said cut jewel is covered with a central portion of said combined structure.
 10. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said annular member is formed of a combined structure of a plurality of polygonal bodies and a curette of said cut jewel is covered with a central portion of said combined structure.
 11. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein said annular member is formed of a combined structure of a plurality of polygonal bodies and a curette of said cut jewel is covered with a central portion of said combined structure.
 12. A jewel holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein said annular member is formed of a combined structure of a plurality of polygonal bodies and a curette of said cut jewel is covered with a central portion of said combined structure.
 13. A jewelry having the jewel holder as claimed in claim 1 having a cut jewel grasped thereby and being chosen from a group including a pendant, a ring, a pair of earrings and a brooch.
 14. A jewelry having the jewel holder as claimed in claim 2 having a cut jewel grasped thereby and being chosen from a group including a pendant, a ring, a pair of earrings and a brooch.
 15. A jewelry having the jewel holder as claimed in claim 3 having a cut jewel grasped thereby and being chosen from a group including a pendant, a ring, a pair of earrings and a brooch.
 16. A jewelry having the jewel holder as claimed in claim 5 having a cut jewel grasped thereby and being chosen from a group including a pendant, a ring, a pair of earrings and a brooch.
 17. A jewelry having the jewel holder as claimed in claim 6 having a cut jewel grasped thereby and being chosen from a group including a pendant, a ring, a pair of earrings and a brooch.
 18. A jewelry having the jewel holder as claimed in claim 7 having a cut jewel grasped thereby and being chosen from a group including a pendant, a ring, a pair of earrings and a brooch.
 19. A jewelry having the jewel holder as claimed in claim 9 having a cut jewel grasped thereby and being chosen from a group including a pendant, a ring, a pair of earrings and a brooch.
 20. A jewelry having the jewel holder as claimed in claim 10 having a cut jewel grasped thereby and being chosen from a group including a pendant, a ring, a pair of earrings and a brooch. 